Wire-bending apparatus

ABSTRACT

For forming binders for looseleaf books with wire bent back and forth in a series of loops in a zigzag formation, apparatus comprising means for feeding the formation lengthwise along a predetermined path, first means disposed along said path for bending the free end of each loop transversely of its plane, and second means for then bending the tips of the loops on each side of the zigzag formation inwardly toward the tips on the other side of the formation.

United States Patent Inventor William E. Whitney Belmont, Mass. Appl. No. 772,158 Filed Oct. 31, 1968 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 Assignee Comstock & Wescott, Inc.

Cambridge, Mass. a corporation of Massachusetts WIRE-BENDING APPARATUS 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 140/71, 72/190, 140/105 Int. Cl 1321f 1/04, B2lf45/16 Field of Search 140/71 l05;72/l90, 191,813;140/71,105;72/190, 191, SB

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,717 7/1936 VanDresser et al. 140/71 2,868,236 1/1959 Smith 140/71 2,891,585 6/1959 Catini 140/71 Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover the loops on each side of the zigzag formation inwardly toward the tips on the other side of the formation.

WIRE-BENDING APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for bending wire back and forth in zigzag formation and more particularly to apparatus for forming binders for looseleaf books.

Objects of the invention are to provide apparatus which is economical in construction, uniform and rapid in action, and durable and reliable in use.

In one aspect this invention involves apparatus for bending wire back and forth in a plane in zigzag formation and feeding the formation along said plane in a direction extending lengthwise of the formation, the apparatus comprising two rows of pins movable along a predetermined path a portion of which extends along one side of said plane in said direction from a first location to a second location farther along the portion, said rows being parallel to said portion, the pins of the two rows being staggered, the axes of the pins in said portion being substantially perpendicular to said plane, and the pins having free ends adjacent said plane, projection means at said first location for projecting said free ends from said one side to the other side of the plane, looping means at said first location for winding wire back and forth over successive pins of the two rows in a succession of loops to form said formation, and retraction means at said second location for withdrawing said free ends from the loops so that the formation may proceed freely in said direction. Preferably the aforesaid looping means comprises an oscillator movable back and forth parallel to said plane from between said rows, the oscillator having a pivotal axis extending transversely of said plane between the planes of said rows and a wire guide offset from the pivotal axis in the direction opposite to said direction. The pins may be carried by an endless carrier, the pins being slidable lengthwise in the carrier. The apparatus also has means intermediate said locations for pinching the two sides of each loop toward each other adjacent each end of the loop.

In'another aspect the invention involves apparatus for forming binders for looseleaf books with wire bent back and forth in a series of loops forming a zigzag formation, the apparatus comprising means for feeding the formation lengthwise along a predetermined path, first means disposed along said path for bending the free end of each loop transversely of its plane, and second means for then bending the tips of the loops on each side of the zigzag formation inwardly toward the tips on the other side of the formation. Preferably said first means is disposed on one side of said path and an anvil is disposed on the opposite side of the path, the width of the anvil being less than the length of the loops so that said free ends may be bent over opposite sides of the anvil. In the preferred embodiment said first means has a bender on each side of the anvil, the benders being interconnected to form a yoke which straddles the anvil, said first means has a presser for pressing the loops against the anvil while said benders are bending the free ends of the loops, the presser is yieldingly mounted on said yoke in advance of the benders so that when the presser engages a loop it stops while the benders bend said free ends, the apparatus comprises means for actuating said second means while the first means is still engaging the loop, the ends of said benders have slots and said second means extends through the slots.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus; I

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the zigzag winder;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the means for pinching the two sides of each loop toward each other and retracting the pins;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the means for bending the ends of the loops to form book binders, showing the parts in clamp.-

ing position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the ends of the loops bent down;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the tips of the loops bent in; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a binder applied to a book.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose of illustration comprises an endless carrier formed of links I hinged together and trained over drums 2 and 3 to travel in an orbital path. Alongone margin of the carrier is a row of small pins 4, along the other margin is a row of large pins 5, the pins being slidable in the links from advanced position shown at the top of the orbital path where their outer ends project from the links to retracted position where the outer ends do not project. At the beginning of the top portion of the path the large and small pins are projected alternately by arms 6 and 7 on shafts 8 and 9 which are oscillated back and forth by cams I1 and I2 through rocker arms 13 and 14 and links 16 and 17. Disposed over the carrier is an arm 18 fast to shaft 19 which is oscillated back and forth by a rotor 21, crank arm 22 and oscillator 23 to swing the arm over the carrier from side to side between the position shown in full lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a corresponding position at the other sideof thecarrier shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. Mounted on the'free end of the arm in tangential relationship are two rollers 24 for guiding wire W therebetween, the wire being guided to the machine under suitable tension by a pair of rollers 26. Refer ring to FIG. 2: while the arm is in right position a large'pin is projected at 5'; as the arm swings to left position the rollers travel along the arc 27, winding the wire around pinS'; while the arm is in left position a small pin is projected at 4"; the carrier is then advanced a short step equal tothe diameter of the small pin to bring the pin 4 on the other side of the arc 27 so that the wire is woundaround pin 4' as the arm swings back'to right position; another large pin is advanced; the carrieris advanced a large step equal to the diameter of the large pin; etc:

To prevent the loops from expanding when removed from the pinsmeans are provided to overbend the loops. Asshown' in FIGS. I and 3 this means comprises pairs of pins 28 and 29 mounted on a support 31 which is moved up and down by a cam 32, rocker arm 33, link 34 and arms 36 and 37 interconnected by shaft 38. The pins 28 straddle the large endsof the loops and the pins 29 straddle the small ends of the loops. The ends of the pins are tapered and they are so spaced as to pinch the loops together enough to prevent the loops from expanding when removed from pins 4 and 5. Support 31 also carries pins 41 and 42 for retracting the pins 4 and 5 after the loops have been completely formed. The support 31 descends and rises during the pause interval after each complete oscillation of arm 18 back and forth.

After the wire is bent into zigzag formation it is fed over an anvil 43 where the ends of the'loops are first bent downwardly (FIGS. 4 and 5) and then inwardly (FIG. 6) to fornithe finished product (FIG. 7) comprising narrow ends 44"alteriiat ing with wide ends 46 to hook through the leaves of a looselea'f book. The ends of the loops are bent downwardly over the op posite sides of the anvil 43 by a yoke 47 having legs-'48 and'49 which straddle the anvil. Sliding in the yokeover the anvil a spring-pressed plunger 51 which projects beyond the lower ends of the legs. The yoke is depressed by a cam 52 and'the cam follower 53 and may be raised in any suitable way as bya spring 54. As the yoke descends the pIungertSl first clamps a loop against the anvil, slightly bending the loop as shown in FIG. 4, and as the yoke continues it bendstheends of a loop to the position shown in FIG. 5. Then the tips of the loopsEare bent inwardly (FIG. 6) by pushers 52actuated by cams53 through .levers 54 pivoted at 56. Aftera predetermined number of loops have been formed to make'abook binder; the binder is cut off with a knife 57 which hooks into theend'of a loop. The knife may be actuated in a'ny suitable way as byan" air cylinder 58 controlled by a counter 59$ Of course it will be understood that the'parts may be the formation, apparatus comprising two rows of pins movable alonga predetermined path a portion of which extends along one side of said formation in said direction from a first location to a second location farther along the portion, said rows being parallel to said portion, the pins of the two rows being staggered, the axes of the pins in said portion being substan tially perpendicular to said path, and the pins having free ends adjacent said path, projection means at said first location for projecting said free ends from said one side to the other side of 5 and fro between said rows, said oscillator has a pivotal axis extending transversely of said path between said rows and a wire guide offset from the pivotal axis in the direction opposite to said direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pins are carried by a belt.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said looping means comprises a pair of juxtaposed rollers continuously holding the wire therebetween.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said path is disposed in a plane so that the formation is not bent as it travels along said pathv 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sides of said loops are parallel. 

1. For bending wire back and forth in zigzag formation and feeding the formation in a direction extending lengthwise of the formation, apparatus comprising two rows of pins movable along a predetermined path a portion of which extends along one side of said formation in said direction from a first location to a second location farther along the portion, said rows being parallel to said portion, the pins of the two rows being staggered, the axes of the pins in said portion being substantially perpendicular to said path, and the pins having free ends adjacent said path, projection means at said first location for projecting said free ends from said one side to the other side of the path, looping means at said first location for winding wire back and forth over successive pins of the two rows in a succession of loops to form said formation, retraction means at said second location for withdrawing said free ends from the loops so that the formation may proceed freely in said direction, and means intermediate said locations for pinching the two sides of each loop toward each other adjacent each end of the loop.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said looping means comprises an oscillator movable parallel to said path to and fro between said rows, said oscillator has a pivotal axis extending transversely of said path between said rows and a wire guide offset from the pivotal axis in the direction opposite to said direction.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pins are carried by a belt.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said looping means comprises a pair of juxtaposed rollers continuously holding the wire therebetween.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said path is disposed in a plane so that the formation is not bent as it travels along said path.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the sides of said loops are parallel. 